Garden Ornament

My neighbor of many years is moving. This makes me sad. I will miss her. Krissy collects pink flamingos. I find them cheerful and amusing; they brighten my day just like Krissy does.

I enjoy ornament in the garden. A number of years ago, there was a house on Grand Ave. in Corona, the residence of a highly creative individual. The front yard was an exuberant display of sculpted, assembled 'stuff'.  No doubt there were those that thought it was an eyesore - a high profile on a much used main street. But apparently this garden art installation was within acceptable legal limits, because the work stayed for years. And it was always changing, if you were apt to notice. I loved it. The outward expression of someone who had something to say. 

And then there is the lawn jockey incident of 1976.  My friend Thora. A beautiful black Trinidadian who, to our delight, had joined our incredibly white Orange County neighborhood. She was a few years older, spent her teenage years in New York City and knew all of the early rock & roll do-wop songs. Thora taught my friend Marcia and I songs by Mary Wells, the Chantels, and others. The three of us sought out all of the stair wells in downtown Orange filling them with our harmonies. Saturday mornings Thora and I had a standing date to watch Soul Train. Great times.   

Jo Murphy climbing into the fountain downtown at the circle in Orange.

The historic district of Orange is beautiful. The old residential area meets four blocks North, South, East & West that are intersected by a traffic circle, with a little park in the middle where a fountain flows. Jo Murphy put dish soap in that fountain on graduation night. After our wedding in the park, our best man drove my new husband and I around and around that circle until I decided maybe I'd had enough excitement for one day.  Full of great architecture, cafes, and shops, the traffic circle is so "Americana" that movies are filmed there.  It was also one of the most right leaning conservative towns on the map. In 1976 there were exactly three African American people living in downtown Orange. Thora and her 2 children. One Saturday morning Thora showed up at my place with a black lawn jockey in her arms. I looked at her questioningly...?

 "Girl!" she says to me "I am sorry, but I said NO! I do not think so! NO. uh-uh. This shall not be. So... I took it".   I will have to ask Thora what became of that Lawn Jockey. 

Thora's Lawn Jockey...

Lawn Jockeys and Pink Flamingos aside, Pottery - even with nothing in it - adds interest to the garden. I love the vibrant color of these Mexican pots.

Even with nothing in it - a large container can add character and interest to the garden.

Another source to consider is hunting around architectural salvage yards. These places can yield some of the most unexpected treasures to be re-purposed in the garden. So take a look around your outside space, add a bit of architectural interest, create a focal point - and if your lawn jockey has gone missing, well its probably not such a bad thing... 

A visit to an architectural salvage yard can yeild wonderful results.